Pacific University swept Linfield in all singles and doubles resulting in a 9-0 win April 11 at Pacific’s Holce Courts in Forest Grove, Ore.
“Friday was tough because of how strong the team is, they are one of the top teams in the conference from top to bottom,” said junior Lukas Kleinman, “I felt like Friday we played a little better as a unit and perhaps that was just because there was less pressure and it was the first match of the weekend.”
The Boxer’s are ranked 10th in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association West region rankings.
At No. 1 singles junior Micah Roos lost to Pacific 6-2, 6-1. Freshmen Kelsey Rosborough was defeated by Pacific’s No. 2 singles player, 6-1, 6-1. At No. 3 singles Kleinman lost 6-0, 6-0. Sophomore Tim Hawkins fell to Pacific’s No. 4 singles player, 6-3, 6-1.
Pacific earned a victory over Linfield’s No. 5 singles player, freshmen Alec Wisthoff, 6-1, 6-0 and at No. 6 singles, sophomore Nick Konen lost to Pacific, 6-4, 6-1.
In doubles Pacific beat Linfield’s No. 1 duo, Kleinman and Rosborough, 8-4. At No. 2 doubles Hawkins and Roos lost 8-4 against Pacific. Wisthoff and Konen at No. 3 doubles also lost to Pacific, 8-1.
“As our coach described it, Friday was the best practice of the year because we were pushed. We learned that we still have to give 100 percent no matter how we are feeling or who we play,” Hawkins said.
After competing at Pacific University the Cats traveled to another Northwest Conference competition against Pacific Lutheran.
Pacific Lutheran defeated Linfield 8-1 on April 11 at the PLU tennis courts in Tacoma, Wash.
Linfield’s lone win came from Kleinman. Kleinman won 6-3 in the first set and earned a third-set victory over Pacific Lutheran’s No. 3 singles player, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3).
“Saturday there was some disappointment in our early performance,” Kleinman said. “We came out very flat in doubles but showed more heart in singles and played through the heat and wind and fought hard.”
In the remaining singles, the Lutes won in straight sets against the Wildcats. At No. 1 singles, Roos, lost to Pacific Lutheran University, 6-3, 6-0. At No. 2 singles Rosborough lost to the Lutes, 6-3, 6-2.
At. No 4 singles, Pacific Lutheran earned a victory over Hawkins, 6-0, 6-0. At. No 5 singles, Pacific Lutheran won over Wisthoff 6-4, 6-1. At No. 6 singles Konen lost to Pacific Lutheran, 6-4, 6-2.
In doubles matches Pacific Lutheran dominated across the board. Kleinman and Rosborough lost at No. 1 doubles, 8-1. At No. 2 doubles Hawkins and Roos lost to Pacific Lutheran, 8-3. Konen and Wisthoff lost to PLU, 8-0.
“I think we learned that when we play with confidence and freely we are capable of elevating our games to the next level,” Kleinman said.
Coming up, the Linfield Wildcats go to eastern Washington to face Whitman College and then Whitworth University.
Rachael Gernhart/Staff writer
